The Oklahoma City Thunder are going streaking, as they have stitched together five consecutive wins to creep inside the top three of the Western Conference. It’s not going to be easy extending that streak to six, however, with the Portland Trail Blazers coming to Chesapeake Energy Arena later tonight. Will the Blazers end OKC’s run? Or will the Thunder continue their rise?
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[sc:NBAArticles ]Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
When: Wednesday, December 16, 2015, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Portland Trail Blazers (+9.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-9.5); total: 208.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: NBATV
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers (11-15)
[sc:NBA240banner ]Without a doubt, Portland is Damian Lillard’s team. Lillard was again unstoppable on Tuesday, scoring a game-high 30 points to lead the Blazers get past New Orleans, 105-101.
Lillard didn’t carry the team by himself, though, as five other Blazers scored in double figures. Lillard’s backcourt partner C.J. McCollum chipped in 15 points, while Gerald Henderson came off the bench and fired 19 big points. Henderson is averaging just 7.2 points per game, so not much is expected from him in tonight’s matchup against OKC. That said, the Blazers need their bench to produce to help counter Oklahoma City’s high-scoring offense that averages 107.6 points per game. So far this season, Portland is getting 31.7 points from its second unit per game.
Allen Crabbe, meanwhile, has been a dependable starter of late. Crabbe, who played just 13.4 minutes per game, has been maximizing a significant increase in playing time this season, averaging 10.0 PPG on 24.4 MPG. Crabbe averaged 13.6 PPG over the last five games.
Portland’s transition defense has been the best in the league this season, as the Blazers are allowing just 9.3 fastbreak points per game. Their quickness to set up defense will be crucial in containing the Thunder, who are making 16.1 points on the open court per game.
Portland is 3-1 SU in its last four meeting with the Thunder.
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Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder (16-8)
Is it any surprise that it’s the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook show in Oklahoma City? With the two playing like MVP contenders, the Thunder erased a 16-point deficit and defeat Utah in overtime on Sunday, 104-98.
Durant (27.5 points per game) fueled the comeback win by scoring 29 of his 31 points in the second half, while Westbrook (26.1 PPG) played Robin to Durant’s Batman, posting 25 points and adding 11 rebounds and five assists. The duo is going to attract attention from opposing defenses every night and it would be no different in tonight’s matchup with Portland. That’s why it remains important for OKC’s other pieces to contribute. Among the better Thunder secondary sources of offense are big men Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter.
Ibaka is third on the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game, while Kanter chips in 11.3 more mostly coming off the bench.
Aside from providing support on offense, though, Ibaka and Kanter have a crucial task of keeping Portland off the boards. The Blazers are a pesky team on the offensive glass, as they come up with 14.5 second chance points per game, fourth most in the NBA. They may not have as much success, however, later tonight with OKC ranking fifth in defensive rebounds with 35.5 per game.
Durant leads the team in rebounds with 7.9 per contest followed by Kanter with 7.8. Surprisingly, Westbrook averages more boards (7.5) than Ibaka (7.2).
OKC is 6-4 in its last 10 home games against the Blazers.
Writer’s Prediction
Oklahoma City wins, 110-98.
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